Stapling machine magazine



Dec. 23, 1958 w. A. FoRREsTER sTAPLING MACHINE MAGAZINE Filed Sept. 10, 1954 United States Patent STAPLING MACHINE MAGAZINE William A. Forrester, Herrin, Ill., assignor to International Staple and Machine Company, Herrin, lil., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 10, 1954, Serial No. 455,195 3 Claims. (Cl. 1-3) This invention relates to improvements in stapling machines; and in particular is concerned with a stapling machine magazine which has means for minimizing jamming of staples, and release means for freeing the magazine and the jammed staple if jamming does occur.

The staple magazine of this invention is designed to accommodate a conventional stick of staples and can be used with stapling machines having stationary anvils or retractible anvils of the type disclosed in Schafroth Patent No. 2,469,054, assigned to International Staple and Machine Company. Inboth of these types of machines the magazine is designed to advance the stick of staples underneath a driving blade which drives the endmost staple in the stick which is situated underneath the driving blade. In this type of operation there has been trouble in the past due to jamming when the driving blade strikes the top of the staple. Such jamming, which may be due to slight irregularities in the staple stick in which some of the staples may be ott-center, necessitates a laborious withdrawal ofthe magazine and the entire staple stick to clear the jammed staple.

VBy means of this invention, there has been provided a magazine which has a confining bar or crosshead cover plate at the end of the magazine adjacent the driving blade, and which has means for passing staples which would ordinarily jam the machine. This confining bar is provided with a recess under which the staples pass to be contacted by the driving blade. The recess will permit staples having a slight bulge on their crown to pass without jamming. .This has been a source of trouble in the past. Further, at the end of the magazine in the driving blade region there is provided a wear plate situated directly underneath the confining bar and spaced therefrom so as to allow staples to pass therebetween. This wearplate has beveled corners and an angular bottom so that when the endmost staple is contacted by the driving blade there are no sharp protuberances upon which the staple can jam. This combination of the confning bar ,and wear plate effectively minimizes jamming problems which have been encountered in the staple machines heretofore made. f

Further, the magazine of this inventionis provided lwith a magazine release which biasedly holds the magazine in place in the stapling machine. By means of this biased relation, if jamming does occur, the magazine may be moved backwardly so as to permit the jammed staple to'be removed and cleared'from the machine. Further, if it is necessary to remove" the magazine, the magazine release is so designed that this operation can be done by. one hand without any complicated unlocking manipulation.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to providea staple magazine having staple passing meansv at the end thereof which will substantially eliminate jamming.` v Y Itis a further object of this invention to provide a staple magazinehaving a crosshead comprising a confining bar and a wear plate through which the staples pass, and

ice

wherein the confining bar and wear plate have means to pass slightly misaligned staples without jamming.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a stapling magazine wherein a crosshead is provided comprising a confining bar which has means for passing staples thereunder which are slightly bulged on their crown without jamming.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a crosshead for a stapling magazine wherein a confining bar which is adapted to be situated adjacent a driving blade has beveled means thereon so as to prevent jamming of the driving blade against the confining bar.

-Yet another object of this invention is to provide a staple magazine having a wear plate at the end of the magazine which is situated adjacent the endmost staple adapted to be contacted by the driving blade, and in which the wear plate has slanted means at its corners so as to prevent jamming when the endmost staple isV separated from the staple stick in the driving operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a staple magazine and magazine release which holds the magazine in a biased relation in the machine so that the magazine may yield against any forces tending to cause jamming and thereby facilitates clearing of jammed staples. l l

Still another object of this invention is to provide a staple magazine and a magazine release which holds the magazine locked in a biased manner, and wherein the magazine can be withdrawn against the biasing forces and thereby be removed from the stapling machine.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a staple magazine and release wherein the magazine is provided with a crosshead including a confining bar and wear plate having means to minimize the jamming of staples, and in which the magazine release holds the magazine in position in a yieldable manner so that jamming forces which might occur cause the magazine to be partially retracted so as to clear staples which might otherwise be jammed in the machine.

Further objects of this invention will appear to those skilled in the art and will further be apparent from the detailed description of this invention which follows.

For the purpose of description, one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that this invention is not limited thereto.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of the staple magazine, the magazine release, and a magazine support;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the device of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a front end elevation of the device of Figure 2; Y

Figure 4 is a plan View of the magazine release;

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of the magazine release; Y

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of the rear portion of the staple magazine;

Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view of the front end of the staple magazine with the crosshead removed therefrom;

Figure S is a view n section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7; j

Figure 9 is a view in side elevation of the wear plate;

Figure 10 is a view in front elevation of the wear plate;

Figure ll is an enlarged plan View of the front end of the staple magazine showing in particular the crosshead construction and the confining bar;

Figure l2 is a view in side elevation of the crosshead portion of the staple magazine; and t Figure 13 is a view in section taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 12 showing the positional 'relationshipof the conflningbar, the wear plate,` andthe ltrack Aof the staple magazine.

Referring now to the drawings, and Figures 1 and 2. infparticular, there-:are shown-v generally indicatedfour main elements. These elements` are a magazine support which acts as the staple lmachine leg or,basea magazine 21,A a magazine wearplate 45, and a magazine'reshaped cross section and has two parallel upstanding sideV pieces and 31 connected together at the bottom by a base 32. Medially situated upon side pieces 31and 32 v (Figs. 1 and 3) are upstanding flanged supports or lugs 33 and 34, respectively. Further, each of these flanged supports are provided with holes in which the axis is parallel to the base of the magazine support.

The side pieces 30 and 31 of the magazine support are further provided with vertical flanges at their front ends in which there are a plurality of connecting studs 35 so that the entire unit may be connected to the rest ofthe stapling machine which contains the operating parts for driving the stapling blade in a manner similar to that shown in Schafroth Patent No. 2,469,054.

The magazine 21 includes a frame 46 of a generally rectangular configuration, as shown in Figure 8, but wherein the top is left open in the center. A staple track 41 of U-shaped configuration is inverted and secured to the bottom of the frame by welding or the like in such a manner that the vertical legs point upwardly within the open section of the frame.

The lateral sides of the magazine frame are provided with opposing flanges 42 and 43, 'as best appears in Figures l, 6 and 8. These flanges provide a support for receiving the magazine release 23, as will appear more `fully hereinbelow.

The forward end of the magazine frame 40 is specially formed so as to receive the wear plate 45. This is particularly shown in Figure 7 wherein it is seen that the front edges 36 on the sides of the magazine frame extend beyond the leading edge 37 of the bottom. Similarly, the inturned top edges of the magazine frame end at 38 rearwardly of the bottom side. This permits accommodation of the crosshead cover plate 44, as best shown in Figures ll, l2 and 13. The width of the cover plate 44 is slightly greater than the horizontal distance between the inturned edges of the topside of the magazine frame at 38 and the leading edge 37 of the bottom side so that a wear*l plate Vcan be accommodated in a flush position with the forward edge of said cover plate.

A recessed portion 46 is provided in the medial portion of the cover plate in order that slightly crowned staples may be accommodated without obstruction, as shown .by the clearance providedin Figure 13. The cover plate is secured to the top of the magazine sides and the inturned flanges of the top side of the magazine frame by welding or the like, as appears in Figure 12.

The wear plate 45 is more particularly shown in Figures 9, 10 and l2 wherein it is seen that it is of a generally T-shaped configuration in inverted position with angularly disposed flanges 51 and 52 which prevent catching of the staples against the wear plate. The top of the wear plate is flat, but has beveled corners 53 and 54. These beveled corners prevent any catching of thel individual staple as it is advanced through the magazine even though it may be misaligned or in a slightly askew position. This catching of the staple upon the wear Vplate on the sharp corners has been a considerable problem in the past,

and bymeansrof thisfeature the problem has ,been greatly minimized.

As shown in Figures 1 and'll, after the wear plate has been assembled upon the magazine frame there is a space between the forward edge of the wear plate and the forward edges 36 of the sides ofthe magazine frame corresponding to slightly more than the width of the staple to be accommodated therebetween. The forward edges of the sides of the magazine abut against the interior parts of the stapling machine due to the biasing action of the magazine release. This abutment stops the forward movement of the magazine and causes it to be held firmly in place. It will also be noted that the crosshead cover plate 44 is beveled at 47 so that the staple driving blade cannot catch thereon in its downward movement and operating action.

The magazine release 23 is best shown in Figures 4 and 5 where it is seen to include'opposed rightl angle llan'ges 61 and 62 which act as receiving elements for; the,;opera Connected to the flanges 61,and62 at the` The base 63 provides a tie tors fingers. bottom thereof is a base 63. between thetwo sides of the release. Both the flanges 61 and 62are provided with pins 64 and 65. These pins are firmly secured to the anges and are drilled .at ytheir ends so as to receive cotter pins 66 and 67, as best ap- This enables the magazinerelease 'to f pears in Figure l. be positioned within the base 20 in such a manner that springs 68 and 69 can be placed thereon Vin a biasing position in which the springs are limited by the base sup- ;4

ports 33 and 34, and pins 66 and 67.

Use

lt is to be understood that in the use ofthisinvention the magazine base or leg 20 is fastened to a stapling machine containing the operating mechanism for actuatingy a staple driving blade in the conventional manner. Thus, the base 20 ,is located by the pins 35 on the machinein such a manner that the driving ,blade is adapted tovbe .I

driven downwardly in between pins 35 in the usual fashion.

Inoperation the magazine release 23 is first inserted in the base in such ay manner that the pins 64 and: 65 arev inserted within the axial holes in the supports orlugs 33 and 34. After this has been done, springs 68.and .69

withdraws the magazine release rearwardly in the oppof site direction of the arrow shown in Figure l so that the magazine 21 can be inserted in such a manner that` thev flanges 42 and 43 pass between the. magazine release flanges 6l and62f and the supports 33 and 34. 1'. When this insertion has been accomplished and the base. of the magazine rests upon the upper surfaceof theimagazine support, the magazine is moved forwardly in thefdirection of the arrow until the forward ends of the. sides .of

the magazine frame 41 abut againstthe'stapling machine and are in firm Contact therewith. At this time the magazine release 23 is released and the biasing action of springs 68 and 69 maintains, by the contact of thellanges .61'-

and 62y with the flanges 42 and 43 of the magazine, a locking condition for the magazine.

ward movement against the force of the springs can be effected on the magazine should the staple driving blade, Contact the crosshead cover plate or meet a jammed staple;

The staple-drivingfblade will contact the exposedstaple when a staple stickis inserted upon thestaple track:4l

These staples in the'staple stick are. urged in the direction of the arrow, shown in Figure.:l,

of the magazine.

by a conventional magazine pusher (not'shown'). :The

endmostvstaple at the'forward end of theistaple:sticktwilly llt between the leading edge' of the'crossheadcovenplaten However, byvirtue of the biasing action of springs 68 and 69 a slight rear.-

and the leading edges 36 of the sides of the magazine frame 40 so as to be free to be contacted by the staple driving blade in its downward operation.

Should any of the staples in the staple stick be slightly askew or otherwise misalgned, the beveled corners 53 and 54 of the wear plate 45 provide for ease in clearance when the endmost staple is contacted by the staple driving blade. Further, slight crowns or protuberances on the crown are permitted to pass without obstruction by the recess portion 46 of the crosshead cover plate 44. These features provide a highly satisfactory passage of staples to the staple driving blade without jamming.

Should jamming occur for any reason, however, the magazine 21 is adapted to be moved rearwardly against the biasing action of the spring so that a very easy clearing of the jammed staple can be effected. There are no complicated parts that are required to be operated to effect this operation and the simplicity of this feature is of great advantage.

When the magazine release is desired to be operated to permit removal of the magazine, this can be done by grasping the flanges 61 and 62 with the ngers of one hand and moving it in a direction rearwardly with respect to the stapling machine. This permits the magazine to be withdrawn rearwardly so that the flanges 42 and 43 can be slipped from underneath the supports 33 and 34 of the base which normally maintain it in a locked position to resist removal from the base. After this rearward movement has been eifected, the magazine may then be withdrawn by lifting it out of the base.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the teachings of this invention, and such changes and modications as will appear to those skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A staple magazine assembly for use in a stapling machine, said assembly comprising a magazine, a base for supporting said magazine, a magazine release having biasing means Vcooperating with said base for urging said magazine against said stapling machine, and retaining means on said base preventing movement of the magazine upwardly from the base while providing for limited movement in a direction against said biasing means.

2. A magazine assembly adapted for use in a stapling machine comprising a magazine having protruding elementson opposed sides thereof, a base for receiving said magazine having opposed lugs spaced from one another, and a magazine release movably supported within said base in contacting relationship with the protruding elements of said magazine and having biasing means cooperating with said lugs for urging said magazine forwardly against said stapling machine.

3. A magazine assembly adapted for use in a stapling machine comprising a magazine having protruding elements on opposed sides thereof, a base for receiving said magazine having opposed lugs spaced from one another, and a magazine release disposable within said base in contacting relationship with the protruding elements of said magazine and having biasing means cooperating with said lugs for urging said magazine forwardly against said stapling machine, said magazine being maintained in said base by said biasing force against vertical displacement by registering of said protruding elements beneath said lugs, said magazine being releasable by moving the magazine rearwardly against the biasing means until the protruding elements are out of registration with said lugs.

Y References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 367,537 Pattson Aug. 2, 1887 406,075 White July 2, 1889 2,066,157 Pankonin Dec. 29, 1936 2,073,819 Vogel Mar. 16, 1937 2,117,742 Potzer May 17, 1938 2,174,219 Balma Sept. 26, 1939 .2,178,354 Brownstein Oct. 21, 1939 2,461,165 Linstrom Feb. 8, 1949 2,501,564 Goodstein Mar. 21, 1950 2,637,029 Morano May 5, 1953 2,664,565 Percoco Jan. 5, 1954 

